The Ship Fitter in Action | Chief MAKOi Seaman Vlog

In this video, we will see the Ship's Fitter doing what he does best. Also, our ship passes Gibraltar Strait and we pull out the massive filter of the Ballast Water Treatment System.

[@adub1300]

I’m a shop welder and let me tell you this guy is making it look easy. It’s already difficult by nature, then you add in the element of a rolling/pitching ship and hanging upside down like that… this guys a pros pro.

[@hgbugalou]

Yep. Also a great application for stick welding. No other process would work in this kind of environment.

[@stevenbell3065]

I don’t know about on a ship but I’m a stick welding god

[@dpeter6396]

Excellent video, Chief! You are the guy who shows us how all this shipping stuff works. You and Sal and Steam Man are beacons of light representing the Merchant Marine.

[@DJ-bh1ju]

Chief... They gave you an old ship, cuz they knew you'd be one of the best Engineers to get it back into it's top condition. Toughest job to the toughest Chief !

[@crazywisdom2]

My Dad was a welder and Pipefitter most of his life. After the Navy he worked in a Shipyard where they built sub's. He also worked on the Alaskan Pipeline to name a few. This is cool to watch. Fair Winds and following seas !!~

[@johnhoffmann1830]

Keep going Chief. Your videos are refreshing compared to daily news and hollywood movies!!!

[@haydzm6651]

My husband is a tanker shipfitter for 20 yrs now, this is his job..last week he did a overhauling of 3 auxillary engine piston

[@TheOtherBill]

I've never been on a ship that large and I find these vids so fascinating. They'll really be missed when you retire, Chief.

[@dwayne7356]

My hat is off to you and your crew and your ship owner for allowing you to do this blog. I retired from a nuclear power plant and it is interesting how similar the work is just on a smaller scale.

[@mikefinn]

Thanks Chief. Great video. Really liked the shot of Gibraltar.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Good afternoon Chief MAKOi You Sir are one hell of sea fairer showing us what goes on with the daily running of a super cargo ship 🚢 Thanks gut taking the time to video this for us all to appreciate 👍🏻Safe sailing to you all 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@aonshark2517]

the lankiness of the fellas is what really makes ships run, if everyone was a stacked and decked out muscleman (like @chiefMAKOi) nothing would get done

[@ChiefMAKOi]

It's the diversity! There's a body type for every job hahaha!

[@janecarlson2978]

So nice to see your video again. Missed you. I have tried to keep track of you. You have a very interesting job and life. Thank you.

[@stevenbell3065]

@@ChiefMAKOias humans we can adjust to specific conditions and requirements of a job

[@acepsolehudin3680]

As a fellow seafarer salute to you chief and to all those dedicated hardworker crew on board

[@naturalstatenversion3484]

I work for a wholesale fertilizer company in the US and we receive barges that are loaded from vessels near New Orleans. I actually just came back from the port in Savannah, Georgia where i was able to witness a few different vessels up close. Its amazing to me how massive they are. I'm learning alot from your videos on and about these vessels. It's so interesting! Keep it up!!!!!👍👍👍👍

[@francoisfortin5826]

I know i get sea sick so I know your job is not for me no matter what, your job (transporting good from a continent to another) is a blessing to me My boss sells meat (pork) to foreign country to mine (Canada) So with all do respect Thank you😁😁 be safe😎😎😎

[@tomlayne5842]

Reminds me of a shipyard project some years ago, during our daily project team meeting with the shipyard team, we as the customer asked very specifically for welders, not ship fitters...The shipyard project manager replied without haste, "our welders Go both ways", the room got kinda quiet for a few minutes, then we all laughed..

[@delendaestcarthago564]

Thanks Chief. My nineteen year old son wants to go into boat engine maintenance. I tell him ‘do it and enjoy it’.

[@David-hc1kd]

Thanks for taking me down the Straits of Gibraltar memory lane. As I retired sailor, my ships passed through the Straits on several occassions.

[@ejmbak]

Fair Winds and Following Seas to the legendary Chief and his ship!

[@svenandresen7952]

Thank you Chief! I like your videos so much to learn something about „back stage“ on vessels. Job wise I worked 15 years in fertilizer bulk shippings for a trading company, so happy to see that most of the vessels you are on board are bulkers. All the best to you. Regards from Hamburg, Germany.

[@williamperry118]

Chief of the boat is recording you and millions around the world will see. No pressure 😂

[@twowrights7945]

Interesting video as ever, my dad was an engineer onboard ships in the late 1950's, he worked his way up to chief engineer where because of the months away at sea he did just one trip as a chief. On land he was a fitter and had many different jobs, including some time on North Sea oil rigs. 🙂

[@irvenrathburn9421]

That was very interesting. I have watched your videos each and every one and always enjoy them so keep up the good work!!

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Awesome, thank you!

[@cedricvaz6112]

​@@ChiefMAKOi It's not right on the part of your Shipping Company to do continuous fabrication and replacement of steel gratings and platforms on deck areas. These are jobs that must be done in dry-docks and ship repair yards where there is proper man power, availability of various steel materials and stable safe working conditions. The ship fitters are there only for the ship's emergency repair and welding jobs. Not for routine dry-dock repairs.! The Ship Superintendents try to save on future dry-dock repair jobs costs which is not a prudent thing to do. 🤔

[@ChiefMAKOi]

@@cedricvaz6112 for major stuff like the big pipes, those are for drydock. For these small things, it's better not to wait.

[@ke6gwf]

@@cedricvaz6112 there is no benefit to being at a dock for replacing that grate and support. It would still be done by lying on the top of the deck, and since it's smooth seas the ship movement isn't going to be a problem. The manpower is obviously available, as he said on older ships there will be a crewmember specifically assigned to this sort of thing, they ordered the grate sheets and so had the proper materials there, and on smooth seas the working conditions are just as safe as at a dock.

[@michaelmoore2487]

@@cedricvaz6112 I don't agree, Cedric. Certainly major structural work would need to be done in a shipyard, but small and straightforward tasks like the one shown in the video can be done safely and competently while underway. Doing the job while the ship is underway enhances safety because an 'area of concern' does not get deferred until the next time in drydock, which might be several years in the future.

[@jerryodell1168]

Can't remember why I had to visit our ship's (USS Canberra CAG-2) engine room years ago when I was on the US Navy. Possibly firefighting training? I do remember the person taking us through to do what we had to do had a broom stick they waved ahead of him while he warned us to always stay behind while he checked for 1200+ lb. steam leaks. A pinhole leak would cut the handle warning us of a leak. The leak could also cut a man in two.

[@steveurbach3093]

USS Waddell had a 1200lb plant, They said it would fire a piece of paper. I always checked with the duty enginman before performing work on the piece of equipment OE was responsible for. My other 2 ships were older and were 600lb plants. High pressure steam is nothing to mess with.

[@Bill_N_ATX]

It’s amazing how much energy is in steam, especially high pressure superheated steam. Back in the 80’s, before the Gulf Wars and 9/11 and the attendant security upgrades, I was able to visit the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. While the GeeWhiz factor of seeing things like the spent fuel pool and the scale of the place were awe inspiring, one of the things that impressed me was the sound and feeling of the huge turbines that spin the generators. As perfectly balanced as humanly possible, each of the two turbines is powered by steam and generates over 800 megawatts of power. The huge generating hall puts out a huge low frequency and low volume rumble that is more felt than heard. You instinctively know that there is a pair of huge beasts living in the facility and it’s all powered by hot water. A lot of very hot water.

[@stevenbell3065]

@@Bill_N_ATXyou’d love geysers

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! Jotun is a Norwegian company based in Sandefjord, whale central. We have a huge problem in Scandinavia now with a type of oyster from Pacific. It takes over the show and the Shell Edge is Sharp as a razor. Keep up the good work. Be safe!

[@EA_customersupport]

It comes clinged onto the foreign vessels, and becomes invasive

[@freddypflugbeil6]

Can't wait for the next video Chief Makoi. Thanks and be safe. From New York

[@ianmac2963]

Thanks Chief ... great to get another video from you

[@rodfair5698]

Looking forward very much to the coming episodes Chief. It’s good to see how other nationalities do the same task. Especially with the task being complicated by the work bench moving around, sometimes quite violently. !!! Keep up the good work Chief, I appreciate it very much and I know that a lot of others do as well. Thanks, Sincerely, Rod

[@ChiefMAKOi]

More to come! Thanks!

[@Odin029]

I thought it was pretty cool seeing Gibraltar from a distance, like the old sailing warships when they approached it to attack. Just from the shots in this video you can tell why those old sailors just called it the Rock.

[@Swahnod]

Another great video Chief! Always learn something while also enjoying the show!👍

[@NiazAli-cq3ul]

Hello cheif .Good to sea you well. Thanks for sharing current situation. The busiest platform on waters is Ship. For me it is new Assignment being performed.Dangrous work.pray for your safe journy to destenation.waitin for.

[@richardgauthier2155]

Yes Chief, the videos are very good to watch. Thank you. Keep them comming.

[@entropyachieved750]

Hello from Newcastle Australia

[@papaalphaoscar5537]

What surface prep? The beauty of stick welding. 😁

[@cmans79tr7]

Papaalphaxxx- Yeah, I only welded a coupla times, but I recognize that 120v "Buzzbox" he was using at 2:05 and I felt his pain at a sticky stick on that heavy metal. I used a buzz box and it barely made enough horsepower for me to popcorn some metal onto a leaky rusty exhaust system😂

[@spitefulwar]

You know, not getting the paint off first was a bad idea when you spend more time to ignite the arc than actuall welding.

[@radamus210]

Howdy Sir! You may not think so, but I thought the views of the rock were outstanding!!! Looks like you had amazing water heading out to sea. Good thing, the guys didn't look as smooth as they could have with the overhead lifts there. That's what's nuts about the work you guys do. Everything is big, heavy and confined. Throw some rolling seas in there and this is probably a job you wait a day or two on maybe.

[@bama35904]

Good to see you Chief!! Always an interesting video. ❤️

[@TERoss-jk9ny]

Glad to see you back!

[@RaymondWatson-cy2ub]

Interesting video chief,and perfect narration as always, best regards to you and your shipmates from a retired merchant seaman 🤙⚓️

[@kikimommie]

Thanks!

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Thank you!

[@russellpowell6634]

Thanks for all you do to show us ship board life. Nit yhe kind of life for me, but romebody has to do ut, or else everbody has to stay home.

[@61nightfly]

Always informative well explained and a great perspective on this essential demanding profession. Fair winds and safe passages. Thank you BZ

[@mohamedaashik9342]

Wow great episode ❤🎉

[@ibbylancaster8981]

Chief, as a pipe welder, fitter , and fabricator, I feel for these boys. As a total total scaredy cat and height, I would have been terrified 😂🤣. Seriously, I have told really good paying jobs that if I had to go up to a certain height, I would roll my stuff up right there. It’s probably not as high as it looks, but this guy is doing it right. Good technique. Tell him that an old welding hand said great work 🤙🤙. Much love to you from Raeford NC,USA

[@gregknipe8772]

great show chief. safe travels. its about story telling.

[@dustymiller7758]

Great entertainment, Chief MAKOi.

[@timscott124]

love your channel! very interesting insights, and comforting music and nice commentary :) thanks for making these videos about your job :)

[@richardbause2453]

Welcome back Chief Marco.

[@echillaoi451]

I just started university to become a marine engineer, thanks for being such an inspiration.

[@mayrenee200321]

Make sure to like the video guys it helps him out

[@wessthemess117]

Of course

[@felixbalamadsanchezjr6034]

😅😅

[@lilo7019]

Thank you very much for sharing Great video Stay safe

[@canigetachannel]

ah... I keep missing you. Thanks Chief. 👍✌

[@janvisser2223]

Well, he is back, so stop missing him

[@raxxmoriti]

I put my hats off to all the ships fitters, on the many ships Ive been on , they helped me to install the equipment I was designated to do.

[@TheHumanMass]

I enjoy your videos very much

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Happy to hear that!

[@bryanmcdermott4204]

This is cool. I had no idea fitters sailed.

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

Interesting to see the ballast water treatment, went to Poland for 5 year survey, the crabs that came out when demudding the ballast wing tanks were pretty big !😊

[@morry27jd24]

We had a ship-fitter called Philipe when I worked on LPGs. He was tiny ! He had real bushy hair and he could fit inside pipes so would push him with a giant rod and flush them through 😂

[@janvisser2223]

Passing the globe valves was a challenge I suppose?

[@morry27jd24]

@@janvisser2223 We only sent him up pipes with gate valves. Poor little Phelipe, wonder whatever became of him.

[@aaronbernal3117]

@@morry27jd24 I’m Philip and you can go and Philip on this 😅lol I’m jk

[@keonikaig9247]

Thank you Chief...Be safe out there...👌😎

[@thomasmoseley6955]

Always interesting, chief.

[@maritasabas-ot7ek]

Keep on going sir makoi..and be safe always❤️❤️❤️

[@Whatiwantedwastaken]

Love your work, around here welders are known as “boiler makers” whilst fitters complete mechanical tasks. Diesel fitters work with diesel engines/vehicles whilst electrical fitters are electricians who specialise in things that move (such as motors) whilst Fitter and turner is a machinist

[@janvisser2223]

What’s in a name. A machinist on Dutch vessels is a marine engineer on ship. Not to mention the always popping up discussion about “propeller” vs. “screw”😜.

[@Whatiwantedwastaken]

@@janvisser2223 only mentioned as a curious bit of difference 🙂

[@janvisser2223]

@@Whatiwantedwastaken Same here👍 did not want to be rude, but we Dutchies are known for being just that😀

[@Whatiwantedwastaken]

@@janvisser2223 niet onbeschoft! I’m blessed living in Australia to live in one of the most multicultural societies, the Dutch people I’ve known are very direct, but never rude.

[@felixthecleaner8843]

love these vids Chief!

[@verdantacres4460]

Thank you for very interesting videos.

[@jobbiejew]

Have a like. Have a comment. You’ve already got my sub. Stay safe Chief

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Much appreciated

[@nvragn]

Very nice thanks Chief 👍🇨🇦

[@cementer7665]

Falling through the grating was something I was always concerned about, as some of the jackups/production platforms that were working in certain areas of the world, were NOT in the best condition, and the oil company operating them were NOT all that "Safety Driven". As the saying went, "West Africa is where the old rigs come to die"

[@tube8533]

Great video!

[@jasonhanson6563]

I love what you do!

[@aaronbernal3117]

I’m a ship fitter for nassco i have been working for 4 years it’s really hard work but I love it and I’m really good at it

[@dezertraider]

THANK YOU CHIEF,,SAFE TRAVELS..

[@kahornaltv]

Ingat po kayo palagi sir chief.👍

[@bryanmalinog320]

Nice one sir..

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Thanks a ton

[@richardgiles2484]

Yet another good video 👏 very concerned about the health and safety of the crew doing the welding at the beginning 😢

[@ivarbergheim3485]

I wanted to become a fitter but ended up as a engineer, i envy the job of those guys so much

[@argus-sama364]

God bless to you sir and to all Seafarer❤ I am a future Engine cadet soon and God's perfect time🙏☝️😇

[@Hans_Niemand]

People in general are not at all aware of what goes on out there that make our world economy work. From those brave ship fitters to engineers practicing Safety Driven operations so intense they are protecting our ports from invasive bacteria (!). The public image of shipping is way behind the reality. Thanks for letting us into this world!

[@nainitalism]

It was these brave souls that kept merchandise moving during the pandemic. Staying onboard for long periods away from their families. Unfortunately these days nobody has any regard for them. The manner in which they are treated at ports n airports is nothing short of disgraceful

[@ebanggm]

Wow … interesting video .. thanks for sharing Chief . God Bless all of you guys . ❤

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ebanggm]

@@ChiefMAKOi Thank you …Cheers 🥂

[@NikoMoraKamu]

I love your videos like always I hate to be the safety dad but Chief please ask the guys to put the blade guards on the angle grinders i know my self that they are pain in the ass, i work with them everyday super inconfortable for some cuts ,normally all of them with a shity way to relocate the guard making you always want to remove it but mate , in the sea , one mistake with one of those , specially with a such a small machine with that big disc , can be a nasty day for all the crew I know the blade guard is not perfect but can save you from a lot of mishaps and belive me , i know in my own hands whats happend in accidents and mishaps with this machines , lucky for me only stiches and scary moments , but i have friends with worst luck and you can see online and in safety videos what happend when things go wrong with those little bastards Sorry for the rant ,i think that you are an awesome engineer , professional, boss and human being . and i know it because i watch your videos and i saw how you manage your crew So please dont think that i'm criticising you or your work or your team I just wanted to add a little that can prevent a big one

[@Lintary]

Safety guards on the grinders and either an overexposure hood or keep that head out of the welding smoke even when welding outdoors, that stuff is a killer.

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Thanks for the input! You are absolutely right. Sometimes these things get overlooked.

[@anthonylee6322]

Here in the Chesapeake bay in Md and VA the evasive things that come in the bilge are killing native fish and shell fish. I presume many ships don't have working filters.

[@ChiefMAKOi]

The BWTS was actually made mandatory first by the USA. Most likely because of what you have mentioned.

[@scottgage9541]

The thing that impressed me most was the attention to safety. The welder was wearing appropriate clothing and safety gear. I can't tell you how many videos I watch where people are not wearing anything resembling proper safety attire.

[@philbodden4981]

Greetings from THE CAYMAN iSLANDS

[@urataum]

God job guys!

[@ArunUdai]

Loved it. I am a mariner too.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

Excellent video, Chief. Is this the same ship your former cadet signed on as engineer?

[@nmccw3245]

Yep. That’s a big filter alright. 😁👍🏻

[@juliansanne5980]

i start as a deck cadet in a year and wonder if you could show a little more of the deck part of the ship? would love it

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Chief, how do they get those heavy filters up to the deck for washing? Do they use a special elevator or access hatches? Thank you so much, I love your awesome videos!

[@ChiefMAKOi]

There's a hatch leading to the upper deck. The provision crane will be used to lift it.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@ChiefMAKOiThank you so much, Chief MAKOi

[@LowVoltage_FPV]

I'd be interested in seeing what supplies and spare parts that you carry. You said that the metal grating was ordered specifically for this job. But I expect that your carrying materials in case of other damage that may happen on a voyage.

[@ChiefMAKOi]

That's a good idea. I'll try to squeeze that in.

[@russellgray1426]

Do the UV lamps need replacing often, it was told to me that the effectiveness of these lamps was 9 months, do you agree with that or are the ones you use heavier duty? Great to see another video, keep them coming 👍🏼

[@eugenedizon2754]

Hello! Sir parang ang tagal nyong nawala sa social media world ah, hehehe welcome back sir ulit

[@eugenedizon2754]

Lagi ko kayong pinanonood dati pa, yong nawala kayo sa ire ah

[@rockelec]

I have seen Gibraltar from roughly the same vantage point several times in the early 80s.

[@mikesheets4332]

Thank you chief be safe out there watch out for Pirates 😀

[@JoaoluisVieira-y4j]

Buenos dias! Jonh of Brezil.

[@Luisinho2]

Is this a documentary? I would love to watch more im a entry level welder

[@ShippingMagnet]

Very interesting video. Nice to see what’s involved in the day to day running on board. With many nationalities, what is the main language used on board? 👍

[@ChiefMAKOi]

English

[@ginog5037]

Very interesting to see chief, how often is this done and how much does the filter weigh??

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Every voyage.

[@dfdemt]

With all your years of experience and knowledge, how did you wind up on such an old rust bucket of a ship Chief?

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Ironically, it's exactly because of those things 😄.

[@janvisser2223]

That is typical. Technical department knows very well that a ship in their fleet is in need of a lot of TLC and is expecting PSC inspections in a “difficult” port. A call to the crewing dept. “We need an experienced C/E on that ship!”

[@BytebroUK]

I hope your ship-fitter's proper welding is better than that tack-welding :)

[@danbendix1398]

Thank you. Still another aspect of ships that isn't obvious to the casual observer.

[@ryder6070]

Goooood Sheeeet

[@jackkreighbaum783]

How many sea chests does the usual bulk carrier have in the hull? Thanks for your contribution to the knowledge of seafarers.

[@ChiefMAKOi]

It depends on the ship design. But typically there's the high and low sea chest for the main SW cooling line. In some ships, the Ballast pumps have their own sea chest as well.

[@lizj5740]

I'll bite: what is a sea chest, please?

[@ChiefMAKOi]

@@lizj5740 it's where the sea water enters the pipeline. Sounds mysterious right? 😅

[@lizj5740]

@@ChiefMAKOi Thank you! Definitely mysterious. I thought a sea chest would be full of pieces of eight, golden doubloons and jewelry! ;-)

[@imdeplorable2241]

Ugh...that's hard to do. Done that myself, on land, though. To that fitter:👍👍